Peru’s Congress Installs José María Balcázar as Interim President After Ousting Jerí

Overview

• Lawmakers elected Balcázar president of Congress in a second-round vote, 60–46 over María del Carmen Alva, which constitutionally makes him head of state.
• The change follows Tuesday’s censure that removed interim president José Jerí by a 75–24 vote with 3 abstentions.
• Prosecutors opened preliminary investigations into Jerí for alleged influence peddling and illegal patronage after undisclosed meetings with Chinese businessman Zhihua Yang.
• The scandal, dubbed “Chifagate,” featured videos of Jerí entering a restaurant at night to meet Yang and reports of nine contested government hires.
• Balcázar, 83, pledged a peaceful, transparent transition with an emphasis on public security, becoming Peru’s ninth leader in a decade and serving until July 28.